“I want you,” he said, his voice guttural.
“I know you do, but I need more.” Please, she thought, find the courage to say the words.
He groaned, his hands taking hold of her hips and pulling her against his erection. She didn’t fight him, but she didn’t respond either. At least outwardly. Stacey gripped the table harder, reminding herself this meant nothing if she didn’t get him to acknowledge what there was between them.
“Don’t do this,” he protested at her stillness.
Stacey looked into his eyes. “Don’t be a coward,” she urged quietly. Her voice shook with the effort it took to resist him. As she watched, she could almost see a hole develop in his wall.
“You’re right,” he said, sounding rough. “It’s not just sex.” Alex closed his eyes briefly, marshaling his strength. “I’m not an easy man to spend time with. I never will be.”
“I’ll consider myself warned,” she said, trying to pull his mouth to hers. Alex resisted her efforts.
“No,” he said, “this time we’re finding a bed.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Ravyn reached for Damon and found nothing but an empty mattress and cool sheets. Instantly alert, she leaped out of bed. Their rooms felt empty, but she checked the sitting room and bathroom anyway. Nothing. An image from her nightmares popped into her head. Damon laid out on an altar. Dead. “Nooo!” She ran to the hall door and threw it open. “Damon!”
Doors opened up and down the corridor. Her attention was snagged for an instant by the sight of Stacey and Alex coming out of the same room. Then, as she felt the stares of five strange men, it dawned on her how little cover the tiny night slip provided. Flushing, she slammed the door closed again and ran to get dressed.
Damon had gone off in search of the killer. She knew it. Her body trembled, making it difficult to pull on a pair of pants. She had to get to him in time. She couldn’t be too late. Couldn’t be. If anything happened to him... She cut off the thought, knowing she wouldn’t be able to function if she didn’t.
“Damn it,” she cursed, shrugging into her shirt, she hadn’t meant to fall asleep. The way he’d made love to her last night, she’d known something was up. She didn’t think they’d gotten a solid hour of rest, not the way he kept reaching for her as if every time might be the last. “Damn it, honey,” she muttered hoarsely, “you weren’t supposed to go off alone! ”
With impatient fingers, Ravyn brushed the tears from her cheeks and extended her senses, seeking Damon. She couldn’t find him. Panic built until she recognized she was too upset to focus. Taking a few deep breaths, she tried again and got the slightest of inklings. He hadn’t gotten too far yet. And he’d have to stop to disarm the gate. That gave her a little time.
Racing back into the bedroom, she frantically searched for her boots. She didn’t worry about Damon sensing her agitation. He’d closed himself off enough that he wouldn’t know she’d discovered him missing, wouldn’t know she followed him. Finally, she found the boots and stepped into them. She considered not tying the laces, but figured a sprained ankle would slow her down more than the minute it would take to secure them.
With a sob of relief, Ravyn pulled open the door and ran down the hall. She heard Alex calling her name, but ignored him. Nothing mattered but finding Damon. She struggled with the front door before she managed to get it open and dashed down the stairs. She paused just long enough to sense which direction he’d headed and then sprinted after him. After a few minutes, Ravyn was gasping for breath and knew she had to slow down. If she didn’t pace herself, she’d never make it.
Once, as she stopped to get her bearings, she thought she heard footsteps behind her. But when she tried to verify it she lost the whisper hold she had on Damon and she shut out the sounds. If Alex and the others followed her, good. If they didn’t she and Damon were the only ones who could deal with the killer anyway.
Finally, the city wall loomed over the top of the buildings. Almost there, she thought and moved faster. What she saw when she reached the edge of the city stopped her cold. A growl of dismay escaped as she studied his handiwork. She wasn’t sure how Damon had managed it from the other side of the wall, but he’d rearmed the gate. Precious seconds flew by while she tried to think. Fear crushed her chest. She couldn’t afford to wait for Alex, but she didn’t know how to undo the security and she didn’t want to set it off.
She knew it involved some kind of snare and she could just imagine herself hanging by her ankles until her big brother cut her down. Wouldn’t that be fun? Alex would never let her out of the city. Too bad she hadn’t thought to ask Damon what he’d done. Not that he would have told her. She scowled. He’d undoubtedly been planning this one man mission for a while.
Finally, in desperation, Ravyn drew energy from the planet tossed it at the trap and pictured it coming undone. The gate eased open.
“It worked,” she said in soft amazement. As she left the city, a wall of hot, humid air hit her and nearly knocked her back a step. Ravyn pushed forward, her eyes scanning the area. She spotted him halfway across the clearing.
“Damon!” she called, her voice filled with equal parts relief and irritation.
He stopped and turned, a startled look on his face. It quickly changed to frustrated anger. Too bad, she thought, making her way to him. The going was tough. Most of the storm had moved on, but it had left the ground sodden, and she grimaced, muddy. She had a stitch in her side and was close to gasping for air, but she didn’t slow her pace.
The man was dressed for battle. Black pants, black shirt with his vest on, and somehow, he’d acquired an automatic rifle. Despite the frown on his face, his eyes were flat and shuttered. Warrior mode, she knew.
“You shouldn’t be here,” he said.
“If you think you’re facing this killer on your own, you better think again.”
“You’ll only get in the way.”
“Because I’m a coward.”
“No, because you lack the training. Because,” his eyes lost their remoteness, “I’ll be too worried about you to fight.”
Ravyn reached up and touched his chest. She could feel the amulet under his shirt and vest, and with her other hand, she touched her own stone. An arc of energy zipped between them and the distance he’d created disappeared. Although she’d once shied away from this link, she now welcomed its return. Closing her eyes briefly, she let his emotions wash over her. She sensed his edginess, his anticipation and his fear.
“We have to face him together. You heard Kale and Meriwa.”
He blew out a harsh breath and glanced heavenward, before lowering his head to stare her down. “Go back to the city and stay there,” he said, his voice implacable.
Raising her chin, she returned his glare. “No.”
The showdown continued until Damon figured out he couldn’t sway her with intimidation. “Sweet pea,” he said gently, moving until he could put his arms around her, “please, go back.”
Ravyn wanted to capitulate. She heard the anxiety in his words, but she knew she had to be with him. “Together, Damon,” she whispered, resting both hands against his chest.
“I want you safe,” he said, leaning closer. “I want our baby safe.”
Ravyn ignored the snarl she heard behind her. She knew it was Alex. She had no idea when they’d gained the audience and she didn’t care. Her discussion with Damon had precedence. “And I want our baby to know his father. That means either we face the killer together or we both leave the planet.”
“Colonel Sullivan,” Damon said, lifting his head and looking over her shoulder, “will you please take Ravyn out of here?”
Ravyn was about to protest vehemently when she felt a presence. The air became oppressive as tendrils of evil snaked toward them. “Damon,” she whispered, in warning and in fear.
“I know,” he said. Grimly, he raised the muzzle of his weapon. She watched him measure the distance to the Old City and knew when he decided she wouldn’t make it in time. They had no cover and Damon moved, using his body to protect her.
Apparently, the others felt the presence too. She found herself in the middle of a ring of soldiers along with Stacey and Doctor Gwen. The circle remained loose, so each man had room to maneuver if the need arose. She couldn’t tell which direction the alien approached from even after her nose picked up an overwhelming stench. Ravyn swallowed hard to keep from gagging.
She felt the tension level rise, but what amazed her was the fear she sensed. Everyone present, including the entire Spec Ops team, was scared. Even Alex. She looked at their faces. None of them showed a hint of this as they scanned the area for the killer. Stacey was the only one who appeared alarmed. Maybe Damon was right. Maybe she wasn’t a coward. Maybe others were better at hiding their fears.
Ravyn reached for Damon with her mind and reinforced their mental wall. He didn’t glance her way, but he added his support. Too bad only their minds were shielded and not their bodies. They needed physical protection. Belatedly, she realized the others were defenseless. Despite the stifling heat, she shivered. Her brother, her best friend, Doctor Gwen, the men who had come to rescue her, they all were in danger. Could she safeguard the others? Did she have the ability? She wrapped her arms around herself and bit her lip. She had to try.
The attempt was partially successful. She could completely surround Stacey and Alex, but not the rest of the team. Maybe it was a matter of emotional connections because proximity had no bearing on who she could shelter. She wished she understood her new power better.
Unwilling to leave them vulnerable, Ravyn enclosed the others in an egg of protective energy. She didn’t know if it would do any good, but it was better than nothing.
A flash caught her attention and Ravyn turned to see a glowing ball of energy zinging toward them. The trajectory would take it between Damon and Alex, right to her. Her heart pounded wildly as she stared at it. Both men shifted, but it was Damon who put himself squarely between her and the fireball. She didn’t need any special connection to know why. He was her champion, her protector. He took the hit meant for her.
She gasped at the pain, but it wasn’t hers, it was Damon’s. Although he grunted and his knees sagged, he did not fall. Her captain was hurt! Fear and fury raged through her.
“Damon!” He had to be okay. He had to. Ravyn rushed forward, reaching for him, but he shook her off. His body was unmarked by the energy and she moved until she could see his face. She detected no signs of agony. For a moment, she stared. She’d seen him in warrior mode before, but not to this degree. Intensity came off him in waves.
Bracing himself, Damon began shooting in the direction the ball had come from. The sound of gunfire was loud, but it should have been louder. No one else was firing. Alex shouted orders, but received no response. She looked at the Spec Ops team. They were frozen, rigid.
Her brother wheeled around and Ravyn took an involuntary step back. She’d never seen Alex like this before. He eyed the team wrathfully as he barked out more orders. The anger morphed into grimness as he understood the men were not ignoring his orders, but were unable to obey. He grabbed the weapon from the man standing next to him and added his firepower to Damon’s.
“Ravyn,” Stacey hollered to be heard, “what’s going on? Why aren’t they moving?”
“I’ll explain later,” she said. It would take too much time to go into it now. Damon might need her. She returned her attention to the battle. Both men continued firing, but she didn’t see anything worth shooting at.
She had to do
something,
so she tried to reinforce the cloak around the Spec Ops team and the doctor. She felt the killer trying to dismantle it and her eyes widened in alarm as she realized how strong his mental powers were. Ravyn began to worry he would use the team against them. If he did, they were beaten. She redoubled her efforts to shield them. Sweat covered her forehead by the time a stalemate had been reached. While she couldn’t break the paralysis they were in, neither could the alien lure them to him. A part of her relaxed at the knowledge.
Suddenly, a volley of radiant balls streaked toward them from several directions. Before she could react, Damon pushed her into the mud and lay on top of her. She felt several balls crash into the planet and was relieved they missed everyone.
The energy traveled through the ground and her stomach churned as her body absorbed the heavy vibration. Ravyn was glad for the solid warmth of Damon’s body along the length of hers.
He moved slightly and she felt his warm breath at her ear. “Do you see those boulders at two o’clock?”
Ravyn shifted her gaze. She didn’t see anything she would call boulders. “Tell me you don’t mean those small rocks.”
“They’re the only cover we have a hope of reaching. When I give the word, stay low and run for them.”
“What about everyone else?”
“He’s aiming for us and ignoring the others. As long as he can keep the team in limbo, they should be fine. The colonel will take care of Stacey.”
Ravyn crouched when he shifted off her. Protectively, Damon put himself in front of her and fired a burst of rounds. “Now, sweet pea,” he ordered, grabbing her hand and pulling her along.
They didn’t make it far before blazing orbs of energy flew at them. The balls seemed to be hitting everywhere like embers sailing out of a roaring fire. Damon yanked her to the muddy ground and again covered her with his body.
“Brody, can you see where the hell he is?”
Ravyn turned her head and mud oozed over her face from chin to cheek. A sharp rock dug painfully into her hip. Alex was near them, his body pressing Stacey into the wet soil. Her friend looked about as petrified as she felt.
“No, sir.” Damon muttered, then added a one word curse as another ball streaked toward them.
This one didn’t miss and Ravyn felt his body jerk. Panic filled her. “Damon?”
“Give me a minute,” he ground out. He was mentally blocking her once more and she knew he didn’t want her to feel how much he hurt.
Ravyn didn’t dare move for fear of causing Damon more pain. She watched Alex kneel, spraying the area the fireball seemed to have come from with bullets. The stench got stronger and she was grateful she hadn’t eaten anything since the night before, sure she would have thrown up if she had. She felt Damon’s body tense.